Gate type kelly cock valve

Abstract

A kelly cock valve for a drill rig uses a sliding gate to open and close the flow passage through the drill string. The valve has a body with a longitudinal passage through it. The gate is mounted in the body perpendicular to the flow passage. Pushrods extend from each end of the gate out through bonnets mounted to the body of the valve. The fluid cylinders are mounted on each side of the gate. Each fluid cylinder has a piston with a piston rod extending in opposite directions. The piston rods are connected to a beam that also connects to the pushrod. Hydraulic passages supply fluid to the cylinders to stroke the piston and thus move the gate valve between open and closed positions.

We claim: 
     
       1. A valve for controlling fluid flow through a string of drill pipe, comprising in combination: a body having a longitudinal flow passage therethrough and threaded upper and lower ends for connection into the string of drill pipe for rotation with the drill pipe;   upper and lower valve seats mounted in the body vertically spaced apart from each other, each having a port aligned with the flow passage;   a gate having ends on opposite sides and carried in the body perpendicular to the flow passage in sliding engagement with the seats, the gate being slidable transverse to the flow passage between an open position for allowing fluid flow through the flow passage, and a closed position blocking flow through the flow passage;   an opening on each side of the body adjacent one end of the gate;   a pair of bonnets, each releaseably secured to one of the openings;   a pair of pushrods, each having an inner end connected to said one end of the gate and an outer end extending laterally outward from the gate sealingly through one of the bonnets;   at least one fluid cylinder mounted to the body perpendicular to the flow passage and alongside the gate;   at least one piston reciprocally carried in the fluid cylinder, and having a pair of piston rods, each with an outer end extending therefrom in opposite directions parallel to the pushrods;   a pair of beams externally connected between the outer ends of the pushrods and the piston rods to cause the pushrods to move in unison with the piston rods;   operating fluid passage means extending to the cylinder for stroking the piston to selectively move the gate between the open and closed positions; and   swivel means mounted to the body, connected to a fluid line for receiving pressurized operating fluid, and for delivering the operating fluid to the operating fluid passage means, the body being rotatable relative to the swivel means for allowing the body to rotate in unison with the drill pipe.   
     
     
       2. A valve for controlling fluid flow through a string of drill pipe, comprising in combination: a body having a longitudinal flow passage therethrough and threaded upper and lower ends for connection into the string of drill pipe for rotation with the drill pipe;   upper and lower valve seats mounted in the body vertically spaced apart from each other, each having a port aligned with the flow passage;   a gate having ends on opposite sides and carried in the body perpendicular to the flow passage in sliding engagement with the seats, the gate having an aperture therethrough and being slidable transverse to the flow passage between an open position with the aperture in alignment with the seats for allowing fluid flow through the flow passage, and a closed position blocking flow through the flow passage;   a pair of openings, each on an opposite side of the body from the ends of the gate;   a bonnet releaseably secured to each opening;   a pair of pushrods, each having an inner end connected to one end of the gate and an outer end extending laterally outward from the gate in opposite directions sealingly through each of the bonnets;   a pair of fluid cylinders, each mounted to the body perpendicular to the flow passage and with the gate located therebetween;   a piston reciprocally carried in each of the fluid cylinders, each piston having a pair of piston rods, each with an outer end extending outward from the piston in opposite directions, each piston rod being parallel to each of the pushrods, each of the pushrods being located between two of the piston rods;   a pair of beams, each externally connected between the outer ends of the pushrods and the piston rods on each side of the gate to cause the pushrods to move in unison with the piston rods;   operating fluid passage means extending to the cylinders on each side of the pistons for stroking the pistons to selectively open and close the gate; and   swivel means mounted to the body, connected to a fluid line for receiving pressurized operating fluid, and for delivering the operating fluid to the operating fluid passage means, the body being rotatable relative to the swivel means for allowing the body to rotate in unison with the drill pipe.   
     
     
       3. A valve for controlling fluid flow through a string of drill pipe, comprising in combination: a body having a longitudinal flow passage therethrough and threaded upper and lower ends for connection into the string of drill pipe for rotation with the drill pipe;   upper and lower valve seats mounted in the body vertically spaced apart from each other, each having a port aligned with the flow passage;   a gate having ends on opposite sides and carried in the body perpendicular to the flow passage in sliding engagement with the seats, the gate having an aperture therethrough and being slidable transverse to the flow passage between an open position with the aperture in alignment with the seats for allowing fluid flow through the flow passage, and a closed position blocking flow through the flow passage;   a pair of openings, each on an opposite side of the body from the ends of the gate;   a bonnet releaseably secured to each opening;   a pair of pushrods, each having an inner end connected to one end of the gate and an outer end extending laterally outward from the gate in opposite directions and sealingly through the bonnet;   a pair of fluid cylinders, each mounted to the body perpendicular to the flow passage and with the gate located therebetween, one of the fluid cylinders being located above a plane containing the gate, and the other of the fluid cylinders being located below a plane containing the gate;   a piston reciprocally carried in each of the fluid cylinders, each piston having a pair of piston rods, each with an outer end extending outward from the piston in opposite directions, each piston rod being parallel to each of the pushrods, each of the pushrods being located between two of the piston rods;   a pair of beams, each externally connected between the outer ends of the pushrods and the piston rods on each side of the gate to cause the pushrods to move in unison with the piston rods, each beam extending diagonally relative to the flow passage;   operating fluid passage means extending to the cylinders on each side of the pistons for stroking the pistons to selectively open and close the gate; and   swivel means mounted to the body, connected to a fluid line for receiving pressurized operating fluid, and for delivering the operating fluid to the operating fluid passage means, the body being rotatable relative to the swivel means for allowing the body to rotate in unison with the drill pipe.